Traditional breeding, which relies on existing, natural genetic variation within a population, can be used to produce pigs with enhanced robustness to disease in a subsequent generation, Topigs Norsvin said in a release on Sept. 16.
In a recently completed independent trial, offspring of boars selected based on a high experimental breeding value for robustness to disease challenge were evaluated against offspring of boars selected based on a low experimental breeding value for robustness to disease challenge. Both groups demonstrated good overall performance throughout the trial, and at levels comparable to performance under conventional health conditions, Topigs said in a release.
Pigs from the high breeding value group had 1.6% more full-value pigs, due to lower mortality and culling. In addition, in the high breeding value group, 4.1% fewer animals required one or more antibiotic treatments throughout the duration of the study than the low breeding value group.
The greatest differences between groups were detected during the initial challenge phase (between one and three weeks post-PRRS challenge), where 100% more mortalities were observed for the low breeding value group, Topigs reported. Meanwhile, pigs from the high breeding value group had even higher feed intake, better feed conversion and higher daily gain during this time period.
“Superior performance of the high robustness group demonstrates that it is possible to breed pigs that are better able to cope with a disease challenge. The data collected from this trial will be used to further improve Topigs Norsvin’s approach to breeding pigs for enhanced, natural robustness to disease,” the company said in a release.
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